Adjustable electric-light fixture.



T. SMITH. ADJUSTABLE ELECTRIC LIGHT FIXTURE.

APPLICATION FILED 0OT.3, 1904.

Patented Feb. 3, 1914.

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APPLICATION FILED 00T.3, 1904. Patented Feb. 3, 1914.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THEODORE SMITH, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR 'IO THEO. SMITH MANUFAC-TUBING- COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

ADJUSTABLE ELECTRIC-LIGHT FIXTURE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 3,1914.

Application filed October 3, 1804. SeriaINo. 226,920. I

Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented acertain new and useful Improvement in Adjustable Electric- LightFixtures, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to adjustable electric light fixtures, and hasfor'its object to provide a new and improved fixture of thisdescription.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein-Figure 1 is a side view of an adjustable fixture embodying my invention;Fig. 2 is a front view of the device shown in Fig; 1; Fig. 3 is a sideview showing a modified construction; Fig. l is a sectional View takenon line le-it, Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is'a view of the upper or supporting partof Fig. 1 as seen from above; Fig. 6 is an enlarged. sectional viewtaken: on line 66 of Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional view takenon line 7-7 of Fig. 2; Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional view taken online 8.8 of Fig. 6.

Like letters refer to like parts throughout the several figures.

As herein illustrated, the fixture is shown as suspended from theceiling. It is, of course, evident, however, that the device might besuspended from a side wall or other supporting part. As shown in Figs. 1and 2, the electric light A isfastened to the socket A which is movablyor pivotally connected to the hollow tube B, the electrical conductor Bpassing through the hollow of said tube and connecting with theterminals in the socket A The tube B is adapted to slide within theguiding or telescoping part C. The parts B and G are adapted to be movedwith relation to each other so as to lengthen or shorten the fixture,the part B being adapted to be held when released in any desiredposition. Associated with the telescoping part C is a holding part 1),through which the tube B passes. A movable engaging part, D isassociated with the holding part D (see Fig. 7) and is adapted to makefrictional contact with the tube B. This engaging part may be arrangedin any desired manner, and as herein shown consists of a spring pieceadapted to be forced with greater or less pressure against the tube B bymeans of the thumb 2 comes opposite the projection D screw D This thumbscrew works in. a threaded hole in the holding part D, and preferablypasses therethrough so that when tightened up sufficiently it willengage the tube B and prevent movement thereof. The holding part D ispreferably cut away, for the reception of the end of the engaging part DThe tube B is preferably provided at 1 its back with notches, B and thebottom of the holding part is bent inwardly so as to form a projection,D adapted to engage the notches B This projection may be formed in anyother desired manner.

desired to move the light up and down, the

When it is tube B is grasped and pulled toward the 1 engaging part Dthus releasing the projection D from one of the notches B in the tube B.The tube. may then be slid up or down until the desired position of thelight is secured, and when released will move back into engagement withthe projection D and will be stopped when one of-the notches B The tubeB is provided at its end with a contact device consisting of twoinsulating blocks, B :which are connected to the tube by spring pieces BAssociated with each block is a .metallic contact, B to which isconnected one of the conductors B A spring, 13, is located between theinsulating blocks B and normally tends to spread them apart so as toinsure proper electrical contact with the conducting strips or elongatedcontacts C located within the guiding or telescoping part C.- The springpieces B are attached to the tube B, and are insulated therefrom bymeans of pieces of insulation on each side thereof, as shown at B beingfastened to the tube by means of screws which pass through enlargedholes therein, thus preventing any electrical cont-act with the tube. Asuitable bushing, through which the conductors pass, is also'placed' inthe end of the tube.

The" guiding or telescoping part C may be constructed in any desiredmanner, and as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is made in two partsadapted to befastened together. The conducting strips, or elongated contacts, C arefastened in position so as to be insulated from the telescoping part.This may be done in any desired manner. As herein shown, thereisprovided for each contact a metallic strip, C (seeFigs. 7 and 8) towhich is attached; an insulating strip, C

The elongated contacts C are fastened at intervals to the insulatingstrip by means of screws or rivets, (1*, the heads thereof being at theback and being countersunk, the top being covered with wax or otherinsulatii'ig material, C", so as to prevent electrical contact with thestrip C The heads of the rivets or screws which connect the insulatingpiece C with the strip G are also countersunk in the insulating strip Cand are covered with wax or other insulating material, as shown at C.The strips C are then fastened to the telescoping piece at intervals byscrews or other suitable devices, as shown at (Fig. 7). The elongatedcontacts C are stationary, and the electrical conductors E and F areconnected thereto, such conductors being connected with the source ofelectric supply. In order that the lamp may be moved to any desiredposition, the telescoping piece C is connected to the support byanniversal joint, the parts of which are preferably hollow, so that theconductors E and I" may pass therethrough. As herein shown, thetelescoping part C is connected to a split sleeve, G, provided with atightening screw, G Thi split sleeve is clamped upon an intermediatepiece, G which in turn provided with a split portion or sleeve, Gadapted to be clamped by a screw, G upon a stationary supporting piece,G rigidly fastened to the ceiling or other support.

It will. be noted that the engaging parts of the sleeve G and theintermediate piece G may be made long so as to give a large frictionalarea, and that the parts may be clamped so as to secure any desiredfriction. This is also true of the sleeve G and stationary part G Itwill further be noted that this connection consists of three rightangledpieces, all of which are movably and friction-ally connected together,and all of which are hollow, so as to permit the conductors to passtherethrough. It will further be seen that I have here an electrical,adjustable or extension fixture, comprising two parts, one connectedwith the light, and the other with a stationary part, the two partsadapted to be moved with relation to each other to vary the position ofthe light, said parts adapted to be moved together with relation to thestationary part to also 'ary the position of the light, and that by thismeans the light may be moved to any desired position, and will besustained in this position. If, for example, the device is suspendedfrom the ceiling the light may be moved down to its operative positionfor reading, or for other purposes, and will be sustained in thisposition and may then be easily and quickly moved up out of the way soas not to interfere with the passage of people beneath it, and so as toact as a chandelier if desired. In other Words, it

will be seen that by means of this construction I have a simple andeflicient adjustable device which will serve the purpose of anextension, and which is yet self-contained, and free from the objectionsof such extension and the trouble and diiiiculty arising from theelectrical conductor ordinarily used with such extension, for with mydevice a simple movement changes its character, as it were, and removesit to a safe position where interference with it or by it 15 whollyavoided, and yet it may be brought into its operative extension positionby a simple movement of the parts.

In Fig. 3 I have illustrated a modified construction wherein thetelescoping part U is open at the side, as shown at H, and theconductors E and F are continuous and pass through the tube B, theelongated sliding contacts being omitted. In this construction when thetube B is moved up the conductors E and F project out through theopening H and form a loop at the side of the telescoping part.

I have described in detail a particular construction embodying myinvention, but it is, of course, evident that the parts may be varied inmany ways without departing from the spirit of my invention, and l,therefore, do not wish to be limited to the particular constructionshown.

I claim:

1. An adjustable fixture, comprising two telescoping parts, a stationarysupport to which one part is connected, an electric light socket towhich the other part is connected, the two parts free to move laterallywith relation to each other, and an exterior alining spring outside ofboth telescoping parts and connected to the telescoping part attached tothe stationary support, said spring adapted to normally hold said latterpart in alinement.

2. An adjustable light fixture comprising two telescoping partsconnected together so as to be free to move laterally with relation toeach other, one part adapted to be connected with a fixed support, alamp connect ed with the other part, a locking device for locking thetwo telescoping parts against relative longitudinal movement, saidlocking device being rendered operative or inoperative by moving one ofsaid parts laterally with relation to the other.

3. An adjustable electric light comprising two telescoping parts, asupport to which 0 e telescoping part is attached, an electric lampconnected with the other, elongated contacts associated with one of saidparts and connected with a source of electric supply, movable contactsassociated with the other part and electrically connected with saidlamp, a holding part associated with one of the telescoping parts andprovided with an engaging part adapted to engage fixture,

said other part, the telescoping parts adapted to be disengaged so as tobe free to be moved up or down by a side movement of one of said partsbut adapted to engage when released, so as to be held against relativemovement.

4. An adjustable electric light fixture, comprising two telescopingparts movable laterally with relation to each other, a locking devicefor locking said parts against relative longitudinal movement,controlled by said lateral movement, an electric lamp con nected withone of said parts, a support for the other part, a universal connectionbetween the latter part and said support, said universal connectioncomprising three hollow pieces all located near said support, eachconsisting of two branches at right angles to each other, two of saidparts being split parts, all of said parts being out of alinement andmovably connected together end to end, an electric conductor passingthrough said pieces, and means for completing the connection betweensaid conductor and the electric lamp in all the various positions of thetelescoping parts.

5. An adjustable electric light fixture, comprising two telescopingparts, one provided with elongated stationary contacts connected to asource of electric supply, the other provided with spring-pressedcontacts adapted to slide along the elongated stationary contacts, anelectric lamp associated with said latter part and electricallyconnected with said contacts, a spring fastened to one telescoping partand making a sliding connection with the other telescoping part, andadapted to normally hold it in alinement.

6. An adjustable electric light fixture, comprising two telescopingparts one free to move laterally with relation to the other, one adaptedto slide within the other, a hollow holding part projecting from the endof the exterior telescoping part, the opening therein of smaller crosssectional area than the opening in the exterior telescoping part, theinner telescoping part passing through said opening the two partsengaging so as to prevent relative rotation, an engaging deviceassociated with said hollow holding part for engaging said innertelescoping part so as to hold it in any desired position but arrangedso that it can be disengaged therefrom by the lateral movement of saidpart to permit free relative movement of the two telescoping parts.

7 An adjustable electric light fixture, comprising two telescopingparts, one adapt-ed to slide within the other, a hollow holding partprojecting from the end of the exterior telescoping part, the openingtherein of smaller cross sectional area than the opening in the exteriortelescoping part, the inner telescoping part passing through saidopening, the two parts engaging so as to prevent relative rotation, anengaging device for engaging said inner telescoping part so as to holdit' in any desired position but arranged so that it can be disengagedtherefrom to permit free longitudinal relative movement of the twotelescoping parts, an electric lamp attached to said inner telescopingpart, two electrical contacts attached to said inner telescoping partand electrically connected with said lamp, two elongated electricalcontacts located within the outer telescoping part and insulatedtherefrom, and means for elastically pressing the contacts attached tothe inner telescoping part into engagement with said elongatedstationary contacts, whereby the electrical connection to the lamp iscomplete in all the various positions of the parts.

8. An adjustable electric light fixture, comprising two telescopingparts, one adapted to slide within the other, the holding partassociated with the outer telescoping part consisting of a hollow pieceof smaller cross sectional area than said outer telescoping part andprovided with an elastic engaging part adapted to frictionally engagethe inner telescoping part, a projection associated with said holdingpart and toward which the inner telescoping part is elastically pressedby the engaging part, a series of notches on said inner part adapted tobe engaged by said projection, an electric lamp connected with saidinner part, and means for completing the electrical connection to saidlamp during all the various positions of the telescoping parts.

9. An adjustable fixture comprising two telescoping parts, one adaptedto slide within the other, the inner part provided with a series ofnotches on the exterior thereof and fixed with relation thereto, aproject-ion on the outer part adapted to engage said notches, and aspring for pressing said inner part toward said projection.

10. An adjustable light fixture comprising two telescoping parts, onesliding within the other, the outer telescoping part adapted to have itsupper end movably connected with a horizontal support so as to be freeto swing in a vertical plane, the inner telescoping part provided on itsexterior with a series of notches, a projection on the outer telescopingpart adapted to engage said notches and a spring for pressing said innerpart toward said projection.

HOMER L. KRAFT, PERCIVAL H. TRUMAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

